Event LAX85LA173

1985-03-15 SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, United States Airport · SDL Minor 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N5539D

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

THRUSH AIRCRAFT INC S2R-T34

Year of manufacture

2018

Engine

P&W CANADA PT6A-34AG (750 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20180816

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A70E27

Registrant of record

THREE FIVE JULIER LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N5539D Beech H35 Minor

Factual narrative

THE PLT & PAX DEPARTED PHOENIX SKY HARBOR ON A SALES DEMO FLT & LANDED NEARBY AT FALCON FLD. DURING THE RETURN FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE PLT BEGAN DESCENDING FROM 3800'. HE NOTED THERE WAS NO FUEL FLOW, SO HE USED THE WOBBLE PUMP. THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN FUEL PRESSURE, SO HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK. HOWEVER, HE WAS STILL UNABLE TO GET FUEL PRESSURE. THE PLT STATED HE 'TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART, SWITCHING TANKS, PUMPING THE WOBBLE PUMP, WITH THE MIXTURE RICH, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART ENGINE.' SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MADE A WHEELS-UP LANDING IN A COTTON FLD, BUT THE ACFT HIT AN IRRIGATION DITCH DURING THE LANDING. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONEDTO THE R MAIN TANK WHICH HAD ONLY A TRACE OF FUEL REMAINING. SOME FUEL WAS FOUND REMAINING IN THE L MAIN & AUX TANKS. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL INDICATOR SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK POSITION. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_LAX85LA173.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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